Gatwech warns Olony against use of ‘SPLM-IO Kitgwang’ as name of his rebel group

JUBA, MARCH 1, 2023 (SUDANS POST) – South Sudan opposition leader Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual has warned his former deputy Gen. Johnson Olony Thabo of consequences over the use of the SPLM/SPLA (IO) Kitgwang as name of his rebel group.

Gatwech who broke away from the main armed opposition SPLM-IO led by First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny in June 2021 was deputized by Gen. Johnson Olony until when the two men signed separate agreements with President Kiir’s government last year.

Since the split, bother men have each claimed ownership of the breakaway SPLM/SPLA (IO) faction officially known as Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition Kitgwang Declaration (SPLM/SPLA (IO) KD).

In a statement, Gatwech’s military spokesman Brig. Gen. Alfred Gach Thot condemned the continued use of the name by General Johnson Olony and warned the leader of the Agwelek faction of consequences for continued use of the name.

“The SPLM/A-IO KD under 1st Lt Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual has strongly condemned Gen. Johnson Olony’s claims for the ownership of SPLM/A- IO KD. In his statement dated 26/Feb/2023, Gen Johnson Olony, the commander of Agwelek Faction has falsely claimed that he is a Chairman and commander in Chief of SPLM/A-IO KD,” the SPLA-IO Kitgwang statement reads in part.

“In 2014, Agwelek Faction under Gen. Johnson Olony had made an alliance with SPLM/A-IO to fight Salva Kiir’s regime. Therefore, Gen Johnson Olony Led Agwelek faction forces were not integrated in to files and ranks of SPLM/A-IO until the aftermath of their defection to SSPDF on 12 July 2022.

“ON 16 January 2022 Gen. Johnson Olony had signed a separate peace Agreement with Juba regime under the auspices of Sudan Government as independent entity and it’s called ‘Agwelek peace Agreement’ and therefore, his claim for SPLM/A-IO KD ownership is null and avoid.

“In conclusion, SPLM/A-IO KD leadership warns the Agwelek faction leader Gen. Johnson Olony against repeating such unfounded claim of owning what he has not worked for and the SPLM/A-IO KD will not condone such a negative propaganda claims and if it repeated itself in the future.

“The SPLM/A-IO KD leadership would like to advice Gen. Johnson Olony not to betray the cause of Collo community for the lust of personal interest and the Agreement he signed with Government in juba will never bring back the annexed lands claimed by the Collo Community.”